June 29, 2022
News
Great South Coast Consortium Clinical Team Leader Chris Kendall is now providing clinical oversight for the Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre (WRAD) and Portland District Health (PDH) Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) teams in a newly created position.
Mr Kendall had previously undertaken a team leader role for WRAD, which had a clinical caseload similar to the position at PDH. Both positions became vacant and following a review, a decision was made to join the management part of the roles across both sites.
“It is the first time the Great South Consortium has worked together to share roles across the region where the person is working across both programs,” WRAD Director Geoff Soma said.
Mr Kendall is employed by WRAD and sub-contracted to PDH. He works two days per week in Portland and three days in Warrnambool.
The role involves supervising staff and providing leadership for projects such as Sliding Doors and Dual Diagnosis.
“This strengthens the collaboration between PDH and WRAD as we can share knowledge, resources and training,” Mr Soma said.
PDH’s existing AOD team members will continue to provide the same level of services to the Glenelg and Southern Grampians regions.
PDH Executive Director of Primary Care Services, Margaret Cadenhead, said the new arrangement would strengthen care pathways for clients and resources for the workforce.
“We are already part of a regional model and this new arrangement is in line with mental health reforms that look at integrated and partnership care and dual diagnosis support,” Ms Cadenhead said.
“This strengthens the whole team by allowing us to combine with a specialist AOD organisation and benefit from WRAD’s expertise.”
The new position also addresses key strategies in the Wimmera-South West AOD Catchment Action Plan compiled by the Primary Health Network, and builds on a joint arrangement with WRAD to provide a pharmacotherapy clinic at PDH one day per week.
Ms Cadenhead said it was planned to expand counselling services between Portland, Hamilton and Warrnambool.
WRAD is the lead agency in the Great South Coast consortium and provides a range of services including counselling, care recovery, non-residential withdrawal, non-residential rehabilitation, family reunification, brief interventions, overdose prevention, dual diagnosis services and assertive outreach.
For drug and alcohol issues, call Directline 1800 888236, or WRAD 55 645777
WRAD HEALTH’s vision is to advance the health and wellbeing of those in the South Western Region of Victoria affected by Addictive behaviours and to promote optimal enjoyment of life.
WRAD HEALTH seeks to provide comprehensive, holistic support and treatment to individuals and others affected by addictive behaviors and associated issues.
The philosophy of harm minimisation underpins the delivery of all programs offered by WRAD HEALTH. This principle recognises that people in our society use both licit and illicit drugs, and that drugs can be used in ways that are more or less harmful to individuals, families and society. Harm minimisation offers a number of options designed to reduce the harm of drug use to the user and society.
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For medical issues call South West Healthcare 55 631666
For mental health issues call SWH emergency dep't 55 631 666 or 1800 808 284
For drug and alcohol issues call Directline 1800 888 236
For Lifeline call 13 11 14
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